ISRO Chief spills the beans about Higher Education in India

Bangalore: ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair, who is to retire by this month-end after an illustrious career at the space agency, feels that the country’s higher education system is not up to the mark, churning out graduates only for routine jobs.

Mr. Nair, also Secretary in the Department of Space, called for improving quality to produce high-class technologists and scientists.

‘Not up to the mark’
“The level of education and knowledge being imparted by many colleges... they are not up to the mark. Instead of concentrating on quantity, these institutions should concentrate on quality,” Mr. Nair told PTI in an interview.

"I am not happy with the education system in the country. The bulk of applicants (who applied for scientific and engineering jobs at ISRO this year)... they are not able to get even 50 per cent marks in our entrance tests."

Nair said if the quality level is not up to the mark, then one would only get people for clerical or routine jobs. If real technologists for manufacturing and scientific research were to be produced, the quality had to be far better.

Appointed as ISRO chairman, Nair's tenure saw realisation of 27 space missions, of which 25 were successful, with India's maiden moon mission Chandrayaan-1 being the pinnacle of glory for the country's space agency. Nair got two extensions in 2005 and 2007.- PTI
ISRO chief to retire by month-end

Fake degrees
Compounding the problems of poor quality of Higher education is the Fake Degrees, where detection and conviction is almost negligible. The Courts and Judiciary which have pending and backlog cases for the next 450 years is likely to enhance rapidly Fake Degrees in India and its export to other nations. Are we producing Scientists, Technocrats, Engineers for research or Bureaucrats and clerks for routine white collar jobs?

Can our National Highways double as power grids?

There are about 70,548 kilometers National Highways alone, and thousands more in state highways, suburban thoroughfares and rural roads (approx 33 lakh Kms). Could all that asphalt be replaced by solar panels and emedded with conductors to feed solar and wind power generated enroute- and that would also double as the nation's power grid?

A pure creative outside the box, yet pragmatic thinking involved in this idea. The obvious solutions that this idea could offer to the world are obvious. Can India beat China in Green Power Technology?

This is the kind of thing worth risking a fair amount of money on. If it can't be made to work cost-effectively, it really is an idea that society can comfortably say "Ah well, it was worth the try."
National Highways Authority of India

Sino- Indian Relations: Recapturing 1962 debacle

Tawang located at 10000 feet, in Aunachal Pradesh, then known as NEFA, was basking in the glow of the afternoon sun and was at total peace on that quiet afternoon of 8th September 1962, when suddenly everything changed and the wheel of fate started turning in an irreversible direction, quickly gathering momentum.

The events starting with the Chinese surrounding the Dhola post, at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan, on that fateful day of September, subsequent move of the brigade forward, abandoning Tawang, the Divisional Vital Ground, unprotected, with just a modicum of troops, culminating in the attack by the massive Chinese force deployed astride the Thagla ridge on the ill-prepared Indian forces, the troops of 7 Infantry Brigade, trapped, down below in the valley of River Namkachu, the dissemination of the Brigade in a few hours. On 20th October 1962 and the subsequent escape by some of the lucky ones are recorded by me, then a Captain, the Signal officer of the brigade, I was there in person and a witness to the events leading to what happened on that morning of October of the year, in my book, 'A Soldiers Journey Through Life With Two Wives".

The book was released on 2nd March 2009 by Lt Gen P Mohapatra, AVSM, SO-in- C and Senior Colonel Commandant Corps of Signals. With the 47th Anniversary of the Conflict of 1962 round the corner and the Sino- Indian relations, once again, appear to be getting strained, the book may be of interest to those following the current disturbing developments.

Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)

India, China dispute most complicated in the world

16/10/2009
India, China dispute most complicated in the world
New Delhi: In the backdrop of war of words over Arunachal Pradesh, India has said the recent developments have intensified the need for the two countries to resolve the outstanding issues with "more seriousness and determination".

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the boundary issue between India and China is "one of the most complicated" border disputes in the world and both countries are determined to resolve it.

"We must take a realistic view that there are differences, there are differences when it comes to perceiving the Line of Actual Control (LoAC) in the border areas. And there are differences also in terms of conflicting territorial claims," she told All India Radio. Source: PTI
India, China dispute most complicated in the world

Why boundary disputes are complicated by the Bureaucrats?
The reasons are simple: Bureaucrats are trained to confuse the Politicians and the Citizens as well. Bureaucrats do not go on ground to study the terrain and history of native inhabitants who populate the region. They tend to resolve issues based on maps and depend heavily on hearsay rather than on ground reality. How many from MEA officers and Foreign Secretaries' have visited disputed areas? What are the geographical assets of each disputed area? Has it been studied and quantified by the professionals from various fields? We need to resolve disputes quickly as nothing has happened since 1962. Foreign Secretary's comments are typically bureaucratic procrastination.

In the memory of 3023 Cadet Nipinder Singh

click photo for enlarged viewingDear Friends,
This message is for those of our friends who may have known the late Capt Nipinder Singh, IN who passed away in Mumbai recently.
Nippy was in the XIX course, Fox Squadron. He had many sterling qualities, and just one weakness. He could never say any thing that hurt any one!
The likes of him come, but only once in a very long while.
The picture with the mail was taken when we had been in the Academy for just a few days.
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

Dear Coursemates,
Just heard that 'Nippy' has chosen to proceed on the long journey to nowhere.
I did not meet this noble person after the Academy, until I briefly saw him at the get togehter two years ago.
The face that is stuck in my mind of the lad who joined the academy 52 years ago as 2023 Cadet Nipinder. I fished out a picture from my files. In the bargain, many other faces appeared, and I kept poring at it for several minutes. And then, there was a lump in the throat. After I send this mail, maybe, I will feel better. Internet permits what poets call catharsis! Later or sooner, we will all join Nippy. And then we will be together again. I am going to Easy Squadron. Others may book their seats.
Happy Diwali
Surjit

My heartfelt condolences to the 19-28 Course family on this sad news.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

NSC of India conceived 10 years ago- is it potent or impotent?

India’s NSC as currently structured and constituted reflects all the traditional shortcomings of the last 50 years, which have been repeated both in this paper and elsewhere ad nauseum. The Kargil crisis the IC-814 hijacking and the escalation of proxy war in J & K all highlight that ‘ad-hocism’ and centralisation of all security decision making in the hands of civil bureaucrats and more specifically in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) ill-serve India’s national security decision making processes.

India’s NSC needs to be constituted and structured in a manner which facilitates serious deliberation of strategic threats and problems in an independent and objective manner on a whole time basis. Civil bureaucrats doubling up in NSC without strategic culture, exposure or thought cannot provide the sinews of the NSC. This should be left to the military hierarchy, strategic think tanks and a NSC Secretariat composed of professional, whole time strategic and intelligence analysts, even incorporated in a consultancy basis for specific projects.

Lastly, the historical background of our national security processes in the last 50 years mandate that NSC should be legislatively institutionalised as a constitutional body so that there is a continuum in national security decisions. National Security Directives should bear the signature of the incumbent Prime Minister so that accountability is assured.

INDIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL – A CRITICAL REVIEW by Dr. Subash Kapila- 10 years ago

Poser for Readers
Who is the Chairman of India's National Security Council?

President of India

Prime Minister of India

Defence Minister of India

Home Minister of India

The Chinese threat is real and the dragon is likely to strike at will. Our defences forces and Military should be directed by NSC...do we have the requisite mechanism in operation to tackle our neighbours in the proxy wars, eliminate terrorists, defeat local conflicts erupting along the disputed McMohan line? War on terror- is really focusing attention on eliminating terror financing (hawala, smuggling, money laundering) emanating from our Nation which should be primarily under the purview of NSC!

Married to the Military

My dear Chander,
I have been off the newspaper radar essentially because of these moves (he was away to USA for some time).
Though I have written a longish piece on Kargil which will appear in the Indian Defence Review. A 'middle' that appeared in the Tribune from my wife is linked below.
Regards.
Harwant
Lt Gen Harwant Singh, Former DCOAS, Chandigarh
Married to the military by Amrita Harwant Singh: click me

Happy Deepawali

“REPORT MY SIGNAL”

हैप्पी दीवाली. रोशनी के त्योहार मई जोय, शांति और हमारे सभी परिवारों को खुशियाँ ले आओ.

இனிய தீபாவளி நல் வாழ்த்துக்கள்.

Wishes all its members and their families a very happy and prosperous Deepawali.

Dear Colleagues,
I wish every Indian Ex Service person in India and abroad a very happy Diwali. May the coming year keep us all in good health and fine cheer.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

Why India is not a great nation?

Major General Mrinal Suman, AVSM, VSM, PhD, commanded an Engineer Regiment on the Siachen Glacier, the most hostile battlefield in the world. A highly qualified officer (B Tech, MA (Public Administration), MSc (Defence Studies) and a Doctorate in Public Administration) he was also the Task Force Commander at Pokhran and was responsible for designing and sinking shafts for the nuclear tests of May 1998.

As India celebrates 62 years of Independence, one tends to wonder: what makes nations great? Why is the US an undisputed world power? Why has Britain remained undefeated for centuries? Why has India succumbed to foreign rule so often? Why is India still struggling with internal dissensions and fissiparous forces? What does India lack?
Click link below for answers
Why India is not a great nation? click me

Victory for the disabled and physically challenged veterans

Chandigarh, February 16
In an order which would benefit a large number of armed forces personnel, the Supreme Court has ruled that disabled soldiers who opt pre-mature retirement at their own request are entitled to disability pension.

Defence personnel with disabilities attributable to or aggravated by military service are eligible for disability pension. The government, however, had been refusing payment of disability pension to personnel who had left the forces voluntarily on compassionate grounds. The reason given for denial was that such personnel were technically not deemed to have been ?invalided out? of service.

Upholding a Delhi High Court order, A division bench of the apex court comprising Justice P P Naolekar and L S Panta a few days ago dismissed a special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Central government against the high court order.

Acting upon a petition filed by ex-soldier Mahavir Singh Narwal, a division bench of the HC, headed by Justice Vijender Jain had, in 2004, held that disabled personnel obtaining release on compassionate grounds would also remain entitled to disability pension.

The Central government had gone into appeal in the case and the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the HC order till it passed final orders in January and dismissed the SLP.

Entitlement Rules for disability pension notified by the central government in the year 1982, simply provide that an individual would be deemed to have been “invalided” if, at the time of release, he was in a lower medical category than the one in which he was recruited.

Lawyer and author of a book on military benefits, Capt Navdeep Singh informed that the Army had also time and again taken up the issue for grant of disability pension for voluntary retirees with the central government and successive pay commissions but to no avail. The issue has also reportedly been taken up with the Sixth Pay Commission.

The Pension Regulations for the Army provide that disability pension can be granted if a person is invalided out with 20 per cent or more disability. The Regulations further provide that persons discharged on completion of terms of engagement or attaining retirement age shall also be deemed to have been invalided out.

Many ex-servicemen and lawyers have been contending that disability pension is granted as a compensation for injuries and diseases suffered due to military service and an early compassionate or voluntary discharge had nothing to do with the underlying reason behind such pension.
Voluntary retirees from forces entitled to disability

We thank Maj Navdeep on behalf of all veterans for campaigning for this noble cause and enabling the Bureaucrats to see the disabled veterans get their deal. We will ever remain indebted to yeoman services he is rendering for the Military Community at large.

Time for India to Play Hardball with China

With its recent provocations, Beijing seems to think New Delhi is still the naive young power of yesteryear. It's time for India's leaders to prove otherwise.
BY KAPIL KOMIREDDI October 02, 2009

Indian democracy vexes Beijing. If India can guarantee fundamental rights to its diverse citizens while managing a growth rate not far from China's, why, someone is bound to ask, can China not do the same? For many in the West, China's economic prosperity is a precursor to political freedom for its people. But this theory, as China scholar Minxin Pei has argued, ignores the important fact that an authoritarian state is less likely to loosen its hold on a wealthy country than it would be to forego the control of an impoverished one. This accounts for China's censorship at home and the promotion of secessionism abroad. But it also means that it is China, and not India, that is more fragile and insecure. The Dalai Lama is India's trump card. All India has to do is play hardball.
Time for India to Play Hardball with China: click here

The Officer Shortage: India Vs China

August 29, 2009: Despite having only one soldier (sailor or airman) for every 866 people, India has a chronic officer shortage. China, with one soldier for every 591, has no shortage either. What is going on here? What is happening is a global officers shortage. Until the last few decades, it was considered prestigious, and career enhancing, to serve at least a few years as a military officer. These days, no more. Shortages are often filled by lowering standards, which can have disastrous results in combat.

The Indian Army is short 24 percent of its officer strength, while China has the numbers, it is seriously concerned with the quality. Meanwhile, the Indian army has had a shortage of officers for decades. The air force and navy are also short, but only by 12-15 percent. In China, the problem is growing as the economy continues to boom (despite the global recession.)
Read the full article:
The Great Global Officer Shortage

Indo Pak War 1971- Remembering our heros

Respected Veterans,
Jai Hind.
Let us remember one Brave Soldier, every morning.
Lt Colonel Chittoor Venugopal was commanding a battalion of Gorkha Rifles during the operations on the Eastern Front. On 4 December 1971, the battalion came up against well fortified enemy defences at Utrali and Darsana. The position had a series of concrete pillboxes interconnected with elaborate communication trenches. Lt Colonel Venugopal planned the attack with great professional skill. Showing complete disregard for his personal safety, he led the attack and by his presence inspired his men to achieve the objective. After the capture of these two positions, the battalion relentlessly pursued the withdrawing enemy giving him no rest or time to regroup till Jhenida was captured three days later. Throughout, Lt Colonel Venugopal displayed conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Army.
Regards,
Colonel SS Rajan
Maj Gen Chittoor Venugopal, MVC

IESM: Pension Arrears for Diwali?

Dear Colleagues,
Many ESM have been calling from across the country seeking information on the enhancement of pensions of pre-Oct 1997 pensioners announced by the government in June 2009. It was a reasonable expectation of the ESM to get their dues before Diwali. It is sad that the government has still not issued any orders on the subject.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Indian Bureaucrats steal the show- display after five months

Corrupt bureaucrats being probed: PMO, Mukherjee
New Delhi, Oct 13: The government on Tuesday said that a probe has been ordered into corruption charges against the bureaucrats after the Indian envoy to US, Meera Shankar, said in a letter dated 12 May 2009, that they were bribed by US firms.

The Prime Minister's Office said the letter of Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, dated May 12, reached the office when the country was in the midst of Lok Sabha polls.

"As soon as the government settled down, a probe was ordered. Everything in the case is being looked into," the PMO said

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also said that the matter was being looked into, even as former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda said that the corruption charges against him were baseless and that he was ready to face an inquiry.

Reacting to Meera Shankar's letter, External Affairs Minsiter SM Krishna said, "Meera Shankar has filed a report as our ambassadors often do. We will look into the matter."

According to Shankar's letter to the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary T K A Nair, prominent Indian organisations which received funds include Maharashtra State Electricity Board (which got payments from Mario Covino of Control Companies), Indian Railways (by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) and Central Insecticides Board (by Dow Chemicals).

The US companies have been booked under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the US, according to the letter.

The BJP had yesterday released Shankar's letter and questioned the government's silence on the matter saying it "amounts to shielding the corrupt.

Expressing concern over the development, the CPI(M) today asked the government to take firm action against persons who allegedly took bribes and blacklisted all US firms involved in it.

The PMO said that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has been ordered to look into the matter. The DoPT has also been asked to co-ordinate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Shankar has also cited a bribe of Rs.61 lakhs given to Indian Navy officials by an agent of York International Corporation. The global provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration products has admitted to the transaction. The money was transferred over a period of six years between 2000 and 2006 for placing over two hundred orders.

Indian Navy sources, however, denied any information on Meera's letter.

"The Navy was not informed about the letter. The navy got to know about it today from the newspapers. We are waiting for an official memorandum from the government and then, we will begin our internal investigations. Upto today, there has not been any intimation from either the government or the Central Bureau of Investigation," the Times Now TV channel quoted Navy sources, as saying.

The Mumbai based DE- Nocil Protection - a subsidiary of Dow Cemicals has admitted to paying about a crore to an official in India's Central Insecticides Board to expedite the registration of three of its products.

The Maharashtra State Electricity board has also allegedly received over four crores in bribes. Mario Covino - an American firm which makes valves has also admitted to the pay-offs.

Indian Railway Employees are also under the scanner. Pioneer Friction Limited has also admitted to making payments of 63-lakh rupees. (ANI with inputs) ANI
Corrupt bureaucrats being probed: PMO, Mukherjee
Bureaucrats being probed after bribery complaint: PMO
Money Laundering: Mind Boggling- must read article why Maoists are ruling the roost
Ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda booked under PMLA for Money Laundering
Refrigerating the Indian Navy
Shankar informed the PMO that from 2001 to 2006, various subsidiaries of York International Corporation, a global provider of heating, airconditioning and refrigeration products, made improper payments totalling over $7.5 million to secure orders in the Middle East, China, Nigeria, Europe and India. York's Indian subsidiary retained an agent to assist in securing after-installation services contract and to provide sales and marketing support in connection with equipment sold to the Indian Navy. “An employee of the agent admitted to making routine payments to the Indian Navy officials to secure business for York between 2000 and 2006. Payments were typically less than $1,000, but over time amounted to approximately $1,32,500 on 215 orders,” Shankar wrote
US firms involved in bribery: Indian envoy

Citizens Voice
Politicians in India have to face the elections once every 5 years. But they get all the brickbats. The bureaucrats have job security. They mislead politicians to further their own interests. But no one criticises them. Good that truth is out at last about our bureaucracy.
The bureaucracy in India is an endemic cancer affecting the lives of Indians and it has been cultivated over several decades since Independence. Millions of corrupt politicians and greedy Government employees, seeking bribes from the people even for the smallest of services expected of them, depend on the System to gain wealth and power. Trying to cleanse and remove this malignancy from Indian governance, will result in the collapse and demise of the government operations and ultimately end in civil anarchy. This cancer in India is inoperable.
Can anyone name any profession in India which is upholding high moral standard and efficient (in international standard)? It’s not only bureaucracy but almost any profession that is affected by all round corruption. Now consider who is more attracted to bureaucracy like professions of IAS, IPS etc? It’s those students who have witnessed the highest crime and corruptions in public life, i.e students from Bihar, UP, Delhi etc. Do you expect any sense of justice and accountability from such people who have joined bureaucracy mainly to take bribe and flaunt his/ her power among weaker sections of the society? That’s the only thing s/he learned form his/ her very childhood. Bureaucrats are not falling from the sky but coming from the same rotten society that supplies politicians, police, professors, scientists, lawyers, judges and so forth. We need to chant and recite mantras in the names of these corrupt bureaucrats if ever they are exposed by the media!

Premature Retirement is not a Right

Where rules provide for approval, voluntary retirement cannot be claimed as a matter of right : Supreme Court.
This may come as gloomy news for those seeking ‘voluntary’ or ‘pre-mature’ retirement as a matter of right.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that where rules specifically provide for approval of request of voluntary retirement by a particular (competent) authority, then such retirement cannot be claimed as a matter of right. The Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered this decision while adjudicating a case involving an employee of Air India.

The ruling is in consonance with earlier law laid down by the higher judiciary on the subject. Even prior to the latest ruling, it had been consistently ruled by Hon’ble Courts that where rules provided discretion of the authorities in grant of voluntary retirement, it (retirement) could not be claimed as a matter of right. Of course, it has also been held time and again that such discretion cannot be exercised arbitrarily or discriminately by the concerned authorities and the ‘Right to Equality’ can also not be infringed in this regard. More can be seen on the ruling by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:27 AM

Lest we forget: The sky is the Limit

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Bharat Rakshak- click me, are doing yeoman service by writing “Chhoti Chhoti Baten” of the Great Deeds of jawans. Recently they reviewed Maj Gen Yashwant Deva’s book on OP Pawan, and have suggested that they would like to publish anecdotes and photographs of Op Pawan. They have requested Gen Deva to help in collection of the material from Veterans of OP Pawan. They would like to give wide publicity to their mission among the Veterans of All Three Services. Maj Gen Deva suggested the medium of "Report My Signal" to Bharat Rakshak which has been agreed to by them and me.

In turn, I now request help from you to convey the contents to Veterans of All Three Services, who took part in OP Pawan. They should kindly contribute anecdotes and pictures of the like of Lt (IN) Arvind Singh who was awarded MVC for raid at Guru Nagar jetty and stories from Air Force like at webpage: click me

Veterans, of All Three Services of OP Pawan, should send the anecdotes and photographs directly to Maj Gen Yashwant Deva, whose contact details are click here or to Bharat Rakshak– click here

In case you need any further clarification on the subject, please get in direct touch with Gen Deva. THANK YOU.
Brigadier C S Kamboj, VSM, Veteran

Brave Soldiers of India

Thousands of injured Indian soldiers were brought to Brighton for treatment. They were suffering from injuries sustained at the battlefront in WWI

Every year tributes are paid at the Chhatri memorial in Brighton erected as a mark of respect to the sacrifice made by Indian soldiers during WWI
Subject: BRAVE SOLDIERS OF INDIA
Dear Chander,
A letter to the Editor published in The Tribune Chandigarh, e-paper dated 11 Oct 2009, is appended below. It is quite an informative letter and worth circulating through RMS blog.
With regards,
Bhupal Singh, Veteran, Australia

Letter to editor of The Tribune: Brave sons of India: click me
“Brave soldiers of India” (Spectrum, Sept 13) has portrayed a true picture of the bravery of Indian soldiers. Over 1.4 million Indian soldiers fought for the British in World War I. Of these, 47,000 were killed and another 65,000 were wounded. In this war, Indian soldiers became known the world over for their valour and won 12 Victoria Crosses.
The first Victoria Cross was awarded on October 31, 1914, at Hollebeke in Belgium to an infantryman Sepoy Khudadad Khan of Battalion I, 129th Duke of Cannaught’s own Baluchis. Thus, of the 17 Victoria Crosses awarded during World War I, 12 went to the Indian soldiers. Only one of these, Rifleman Gobar Singh Negi of Battalion II, 39th Garhwal Rifles was awarded posthumously, other VC holders had fought on to inspire their fellow soldiers. At the end of the war, 2/3 Gorkha Rifles had two living VCs in the unit.
The Britishers were very tactful, tough and tenacious. They had not considered the Indian soldiers entitled for the Victoria Cross. The “Order of Merit” instituted in 1837 was the highest gallantry award for the Indian soldiers. It was only in 1911 that Indian soldiers became entitled to receive the VC.
The courage of millions of soldiers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean, who fought and died for the British in the two world wars, has been recognised now with the erection of memorial gates adjacent to the Buckingham Palace. Leading industrialists Gopichand Hinduja, Lakshmi Mittal and Avtar Lit were among influential Asians in Britain who were the driving force behind the setting up of these memorials.
Our politicians have no time for our martyrs. On Kargil Day many leaders had no time to grace the functions held to mark the occasion.
MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari (Hamirpur)

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Brave soldiers of India
Nearly 50,000 Indian soldiers died on the western front during World War I. Two monuments were erected on British soil— one to mark the soldiers’ supreme sacrifice, and the other to convey appreciation of people from India to the British for nursing their countrymen, writes Chanan Singh Dhillon. Read the full account by clicking link below:
Brave soldiers of India

A Highway through A Building- Japanese are unstoppable

Look at the commitment of the builders of this building!! Truly amazing.
Gate Tower Building is a 16-story office building in Fukushima-ku, Osaka , Japan. And what makes it notable is the highway that passes through the 5th-7th floors of this building.

The highway is part of the Hanshin Expressway, a network (239.3 km) of expressways surrounding Osaka , Kobe and Kyoto , Japan. The Gate Tower Building is Japan 's first building to have a highway pass through it. And it had been nicknamed "beehive" referring to its appearance as a "bustling place".

The Umeda Exit of the Ikeda Route of the Hanshin Expressway system passes through this building. The expressway is the tenant of these floors.

The elevator doesn't stop on floor 5th-7th, floor 4 being followed by floor 8. These floors consist of elevators, stairways, machinery

The highway passes through the building as a bridge, held up by supports next to the building making no contact with the building itself.

The building has a double core construction, with a circular cross section and special care is taken by providing surrounding structure to the highway to protect the building from noise and vibration.

Generally expressways are built underground, and passing through a building is an extremely rare occasion. It dates back to 1983, when the redevelopment of this area was decided upon, "building permits were refused because the highway was already being planned to be built over this land. The property rights' holders refused to give up, and negotiated with the Hanshin Expressway corporation for approximately 5 years to reach the current solution."
A Highway through A Building!!!- Japanese are unstoppable

Eye Opener
Do our Politicians and Bureaucrats have any such vision for the Indian Metropolitan Cities buckling and crumbling/ crumpling under traffic and massive building pressure? Rightly Dr Manmohan Singh has highlighted that corruption is eating away our economy and infrastructural growth. Leave alone highways even potholes are not filled and highways resemble cart tracks in most regions. Citizen's need to continue dreaming to fulfill and realize their wishes.